LESSON 1: PLANNING YOUR VIDEO

[LuckyLewis]

Keep it up chaps, wonderful ideas so far!

[Leonidas The Lion]

MY PLAN

The subject: M2TW Broken Crescent Mod( Trailer with text featuring the mods features) The goal: To advertise the mod basically( i know its an old mod, but its what i've got at the moment), opposing armies charging each other, then combat followed by finishers. The main audience: M2TW players, people looking for a good mod I need permission from: Creators of the mod, need to pm them My limitations and parameters: Video length 1.5 - 2 minutes Music: Need to find some good Epic music Need to get the music to synchronise nicely with the actions The story-board: Fade in taking a look at the landscape Crusader armies marching (text with feature) Arab army moving into position (text with feature) Armies begin moving(from different angles) 10 secs (more text) Charge begins, switching between armies (text) they get closer (test) Clash, and different battle scenes in rapid succession close up shots of fighting close up shots, of finishers, snapping between them reaches climax of the finishing move(music also climaxes here) fade out, with BC logo fading in

Might I suggest you set up a lesson completion thread so you can keep track of who has done what.

[MasterBigAb]

MY PLAN

The subject: M2TW Broken Crescent Mod( Trailer with text featuring the mods features) The goal: To advertise the mod basically( i know its an old mod, but its what i've got at the moment), opposing armies charging each other, then combat followed by finishers. The main audience: M2TW players, people looking for a good mod I need permission from: Creators of the mod, need to pm them My limitations and parameters: Video length 1.5 - 2 minutes Music: Need to find some good Epic music Need to get the music to synchronise nicely with the actions The story-board: Fade in taking a look at the landscape Crusader armies marching (text with feature) Arab army moving into position (text with feature) Armies begin moving(from different angles) 10 secs (more text) Charge begins, switching between armies (text) they get closer (test) Clash, and different battle scenes in rapid succession close up shots of fighting close up shots, of finishers, snapping between them reaches climax of the finishing move(music also climaxes here) fade out, with BC logo fading in

Might I suggest you set up a lesson completion thread so you can keep track of who has done what.

I'm sure The Nanny has a list from all "pupils" and their work so he knows who has already done something and what... (we also will still need it later )

[Leonidas The Lion]

ok, your the boss(s)

[Nanny de Bodemloze]

not to worry mate...we know who's been naughty and who's been nice

[MasterBigAb]

not to worry mate...we know who's been naughty and who's been nice

Sounds like:

"Have you been naughty little pupil ?"

[Leonidas The Lion]

Sounds like:

"Have you been naughty little pupil ?"

[Saint Nicholas]

I'd be careful in posting babe pics gents.. the mod gods may smite ye.. Not me though.. mmmm.. yes, I've been very naughty.. mm.. anyway. To the lesson!

Lesson 1

The subject of my video is... Rome Total War and how it is still an awesome game to play and watch, specifically looking at one mod for it and using it for all footage. The goal of my video is to... entertain the masses, dazzle people with my awesome video and screen capturing skills and to get people thinking about playing RTW again. The main audience for my video is... All TW players, strategy game players, TWC. I need permission from... (if applicable) N/A. The limitations and parameters I am working within are... Limited only by my imagination.. and video capture/editing skills! Working within the confines of the TW engine for RTW. Music will most likely be metal, really intense action packed songs and sound to blow you away. Video length will be whatever is approporiate, probably around 2-3 minutes. Pretty much only going to use game footage, but may throw in some funny bits if I can. Very much up in the air at the moment, not sure what I can and can't include and what I'm capable of! Learning experience after all. The story-board for my video looks like... Basic introduction and shots of RTW game, highlighting the map, units, factions. Music is fairly mild and friendly. Then, all of a sudden, BANG. Music changes to heavy crazy death metal and a magnificent battle scene is playing, soldiers fighting each other on the battlefield. Video changes between close up shots of one on one battles and elephants/cavalry charging into the ranks. Really action packed stuff. At some point text will be floating onto the vid, something along the lines of RTW is still awesome, in no other game do the Romans look so good and play so well. Truly experience the ancient Roman ways as you conquer the old world, one town at a time... eventually everything fades to black and more text advertising RTW with a nice box art shot. The end..

[Nanny de Bodemloze]

OK, these plans look very good, I'm quite excited to watch them develop! A couple of things to note in general. The 2 minute time limit we've imposed has a purpose - forces you to be very selective and picky about your footage; leaves your audience "wanting more" rather than getting bored; instability of MovieMaker when vids exceed 2 minutes. Also, pinpointing your audience as much as possible, even if you really intend to appeal to a wider group, will help you near the end when you start asking yourself "is this vid effective?".

Here is some specific feedback for the assignments so far:

Demetrios2008
- great plan...a clear vision, with specifics
- good to have a time breakdown (5 seconds etc)...this may change as you see your footage, but I assume you are allowing for flexibility

Hesus de bodemloze
- the audience has been very clearly defined...this will serve you very well later in the process
- watch the time limit...2 minutes max

zyxos
- a very clear vision
- "highjack the graphic engine to show sequences that have nothing to do with actual gameplay"...I'm not sure what this means, but if you do that's all that is important

♔Mitch, Your humble servant♔
- well thought out plan, very clear audience and purpose
- watch the 2 minute time limit
- you mention slo mo...later, you may find that making slo mo look good without being choppy is a challenge...next week, I'll help you out with some specific tips to try to deal with this

empr guy
- good plan, you don't have to worry about what you originally planned (RTW or M2)...whatever you want now is good
- at some point, some in-game audio must be used for this course (doesn't have to be much)
- watch the 2 minute time limit

alex_shields
- lol @ audience
- I have a soft spot for naval battles...I don't have fun playing them, but damn they are cool to watch

La♔De♔Da♔Brigadier Graham
- having trouble understanding your strange duffer-speak
- watch the 2 minute time limit
- slo mo...later, slo mo is difficult to look good without being choppy...next week, I'll help you out with some specific tips to try to deal with this

Finlander
- excellent, specific story-board...very detailed, this helps at this stage even you change it later
- try imagining a more specific audience (even if it appeals beyond that)...helps later when you are trying to figure out if the vid is "effective"
- watch the 2 minute time limit

SPQG_Juba
- a very interesting approach...building the vid around the music choice. There are many different ways to make an effective vid, depends on personal style...but your method here is also what my personal approach is. I start with the audio/music approach, then go from there. You a musician?

Leonidas The Lion
- excellent plan
- when trying to decide music, there are so many different approaches...the trick is to find something that isn't cliche...to do this, I scan through soundtracks of movies not typically associated with big battles...you'd be surprised what is out there, and it will sound more original (I've even found good audio from movies like Meet Joe Black, King Kong, Narnia...)

Saint Nicholas
- great looking story board...a clear vision, this will help you later
- be mindful of the 2 minute time limit
- RIP Ronnie James Dio

[MasterBigAb]

@ Saint Nicholas

Yep, that's why i used a (more or less) total harmless one, and since i don't post such things constantly, actually for the first time cause it just fits soo good, i hope no moderator out there will hang me up for that...

@ The Nanny:
No feedback for me ???

[Nanny de Bodemloze]

@ The Nanny:
No feedback for me ???

LOL Master - you could school me on some of this stuff! You've been at it longer

Actually, the part that caught my attention in your plan is a good point for everyone - you found audio you like, but its too long, so you are cutting it to make it work within your limits. MovieMaker can do this type of audio editing, but for anyone wishing to do this there are better programs to make sure this goes smoothly. It is tricky...MM is finicky about audio and video codecs, so there may be some trial and error. I do this all the time...sometimes, a piece of music has sections that I don't like as much and I have to pare it down to meet a time restriction. Good plan mate.

[MasterBigAb]

LOL Master - you could school me on some of this stuff! You've been at it longer

Actually, the part that caught my attention in your plan is a good point for everyone - you found audio you like, but its too long, so you are cutting it to make it work within your limits. MovieMaker can do this type of audio editing, but for anyone wishing to do this there are better programs to make sure this goes smoothly. It is tricky...MM is finicky about audio and video codecs, so there may be some trial and error. I do this all the time...sometimes, a piece of music has sections that I don't like as much and I have to pare it down to meet a time restriction. Good plan mate.

Well not with Empire

[Maximus IV]

First Lesson

My Homework

The Subject: Promotional video for NTW. The Goal: To attract more and more pple to buy and start playing Napoleon Total War. The Main Audience: People who have doubts to buy NTW. I need permission from: - My Limitations and Parameters: Video Length: 1-2 Mins. Need to find some good epic-battle music for the vid. ( If i didnt find anything,perhaps i will use the vanilla music from the game). Text in English in the end of the vid for Credits and at some points during the vid. Oh and of course at the start of the vid. In-Game footage only. The Story Board: Perhaps in the beginning , a short short referrence to the Great General Napoleon.. Text appears.. After this,armies facing each other,fighting. Camera close to the soldiers that fighting.. Cannons all over the place. Explosions. Cavarly coming.. Next , A Naval Battle between two fleets. Camera close to the ships,their cannons... In addition , the World Campaign map appears along with all the mini campaigns( Italian,Egyptian,European)... Focusing on the new details,such as Attrition,Replenishment,Improved Campaign Characters,Military Character Recruitment,General Abilities and more more things !

I hope i did well.. Critisims/compliments/opinions are welcome of course.

[Hesus de bodemloze]

Any chance we could lesson two a bit earlier?

And 2 minutes should be enough as well. It's some sort of optional the time limit on the video.

[Nanny de Bodemloze]

Hesus is psychic


The assignment for Lesson 1 is not due until tomorrow for those folk still working on it, but Lesson 2 is now available for anyone ready to press on. Good luck and happy hunting!

[ulti]

Video Plan

1. The subject of my video is... Advertisement for the Napoleon: Order of War mod 2. The goal of my video is to... Show off the brilliant work of Marshal Beale and attract users to it. 3. The main audience is... Mainly NTW Players looking for a mod, but generally all NTW players/potential players 4. I need permission from... No one as I am the Public Relations manager for the mod 5. The limitations/parameters I am working within are... The video is to be no longer than 2 minutes There must be dramatic music for the majority (at least 3/4 of the video) I will use in game sound for cannons firing. There will be at least two quotes in the video All mod contributors must be credited. 6. My storyboard is a such... Presented by - 5 secs Opening rocket fire + casualties -10/15 secs Quote to do with war - 5 secs Infantry Skirmish -20/30 secs Quote from Marshal Beale about mod - 5 secs Various battle scenes - 40-50 secs Final epic cavalry charge -10 secs Info/Links screen - remainder

[Nanny de Bodemloze]

Great job Ulti, and a detailed and focused plan that will work well for you.

I don't want to get into advertising different mods here, but I must say that the Order of War mod is VERY video friendly...the colours and uniforms are vibrant, the performance is good...it is a dream for anyone shooting NTW vids. There are other great mods of course, but this is my personal preference for land battles.

[.Mitch.]

So do we PM you and request the next lesson or will it be posted?

[Nanny de Bodemloze]

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=360057

its already up mate

[.Mitch.]

Ahah !

Thanks mate.